TVR Speed Six gets reliability pack
Engineers boost powerplant's dependability
TVR Speed Six gets reliability package
When TVR wanted to develop its own motive power, it commissioned MCD to design an engine to meet the company’s performance parameters. The end product was a six cylinder in-line DOHC unit, now known as the Speed 6. Autocraft SVE said that detail differences remain between the production version and the unit originally penned by MCD designer Al Melling.
However, since the commissioning of the Speed 6, some owners have reported reliability issues with this engine -- many here on PistonHeads.
Salisbury-based Autocraft SVE and MCD have agreed to offer a performance and reliability upgrade package for these engines. The replacement components and modifications procedures address problems that have surfaced with the TVR specification engine, particularly within the cylinder head, valve train and cam shaft oiling areas.
Autocraft SVE said it would only supply components designed, specified and approved by MCD, and that the components it adds will be identified as such to show their origins. Furthermore, complete records of engines treated with the Autocraft SVE/MCD approved package will be maintained in order to support warranty claims should they arise.
Autocraft also said it offers a 12,000 mile transferable warranty on the upgrade, with extensible warranties also being available, and reckoned that its package adds value to the car because of the involvement and approval of MCD.
All that said, it's worth wondering why it's taken this long, given that the Speed Six has been out for over five years -- and how many cars remain out there that have not had some form of remedial work already performed on their engines.
Cheers
I suspect TVR can't fix them all because of the costs involved. However it would be nice for them to recognise the issue and offer some kind of assistance. Although I very much doubt they will.
Should gives dealers another avenue to go down when they can't stop the engines going "bang" too. But offering forecourt cars with the upgrades/changes would certainly boost confidence.
What I mean is if my lump went wrong, (I refer to an out of waranty car) and I was faced with a factory rebuild, or the Atoucraft pack, then I think Autocrafts deal is the better one.
Firstly they have the origional designer, or one of them on board.
Secondly your car will have been upgraded to the origional design, which must be the way to go.
This is only bad news for TVR as far as I am concerned, I mean pay out anything up to 30ish grand for a car that the manufactures can't fix?
I was at the dealers the other day joking with the mechanic, that I would not be surprised if TVR joined forces with Craft, as they are not doing rebuilds at the factory.
Well if they let P James go then anything is possible.
I am still a TVR nut, but this stuff is not good for future customers, or existing ones come to that.
Nick
Cyberhuss said:
anyone know how much money
Think its around £4950 + VAT fitted, for the "reliability package"
good god, does that strike anybody else as a LOT of cash?? i know that a rebuild is that sort of money, but to expect customers to be able to afford to roll up and say 'yes please' to that as an 'upgrade' seems unlikely. or am i being shortsighted?
of course, if it is being marketed as an alternate repair for when things have already gone pop then its more reasonable, but I'm guessing in that eventuality that'll there will be additional costs for the other damaged bits and pieces. factor that in to the cost and its looking like a pretty expensive fix to me, especially if its only guaranteed for 12 months.
not very lucid this i know, but it strikes me that you could get a really really good warranty for much less than this and then suggest to the warranty company to send the car there if/ when all goes breasts north.
great news though, just wish it were cheaper cos id have it done in a flash.
Even if you had this done, how much value would it put on the car, not £5-6K I'd wager!
Nice idea, but too expensive, more so if you think you could almost buy a new one with the part ex you already have!
but I assume this gives the engine a rebuild including replacing the said parts with some which are properly made rather than the ones which appear to have been made under a cost cutting regime. Other than those bits the S6 is an utterly brilliant engine, powerful, torquey, great sounding and with lots of power from the size. It should have been a legend, and if fixed it could still be If MCD has fixed that problem I'd love an S6 engined car, especially as you can get one for comparatively little even taking into account the rebuild.
I'm not looking at this as an upgrade, the valve guides were showing signs of wear (using 1 litre of oil per 500 miles) so I'm taking the opportunity to have the top end re-engineered to the original spec including a couple of mods that were part of the original MCD design.
Nervous - drop me a line through my profile and I'll fill you in with some more detail if you're interested.
JT
>> Edited by plug on Wednesday 22 June 18:45
>> Edited by plug on Wednesday 22 June 19:49
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